In an effort to communicate in a wider variety of formats I am beginning to video messages to the staff and community. This is the first message I would like to share.
http://media.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/userportal/index.html#/player/vod/U3ad46296d66f4f7d8b9b8b77b4382202
Recently, a group of KPBSD teacher leaders met at a statewide conference to learn more about being educational leaders in their district and schools. We followed up on that conference with the group to discuss how to take what they learned and implement it at their schools. I was so impressed with the level of engagement of this group and their commitment to improving their craft! The activities we participated in showed me that we have excellence in our ranks and it is important to support this groups overall leadership capacity. This would also strengthen our collaboration efforts by having teachers direct it.
So, what is this “look for the green box” all about? Well, at the meeting a teacher suggested we fully utilize our technology to promote collaboration. We have Skype for Business in place and available for all of our staff across this district which can allow for an “anytime, anywhere” meetings to improve our instructional practices. Our Skype program allows others to see the availability of an individual. A green box by an individual’s name means they are available, thus just look for a “green box” to collaborate! We have a handful of teachers regularly communicating in this manner by asking quick questions, but the potential is so much greater.
Our district has so many pockets of excellence we must commit to sharing what works so that all students get a great education every day. Yes, using video conferencing to collaborate takes time and some planning, but that investment will pay dividends for our students through improved instruction. There is so much changing in education and in our world that it has become virtually impossible for an individual teacher to meet every expectation in isolation. The paradigm must shift from the concept of one teacher, teaching one subject, to one class, at one time, for one hour to the paradigm of one student accessing innovative practices and personalized learning. This cannot be done in isolation and requires all of us to look for the “green box” to work together across our district with a growth mindset.
As we begin the budget process for KPBSD, many concerns are being raised about potential cuts and program losses. Educators in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will make our budget work to benefit our students. It will likely require thinking outside the box as far as instructional delivery goes, but we will provide a high quality education for our students no matter what the legislature and governor decide with the state budget and funding plan for the 2017-2018 school year, and into the future. Instruction and our schools may be different than they are now. We will be fully engaged in the process and we will plan for a variety of contingencies. Students are our priority—no matter what. Our communities must understand they need to be engaged and, more importantly, must understand all of the great things happening in our schools every day.
As we get past the election and closer to the legislative session it is easy to see how fluid the information coming from state leaders is about the upcoming budget. We have heard that funding for education will be reduced anywhere from 3% to 20% for fiscal year 2018, and have begun to look at the impacts of this type of potential revenue reduction to our schools and district. In addition, there is a lot of rhetoric from many different quarters about the value provided by public education. Regardless of what we may hear from leaders and others across the state, we want our communities engaged in the budget conversation. Please remember that there can be a great deal of opportunity for improvement within this conversation.
The Governor will set the financial stage in December with his preliminary budget. I believe it will be based on a sustainable revenue plan so that ultimately the reductions to K-12 education will initially be small. However, I believe different scenarios will be included in the budget so the public will understand more severe options if various revenues are not considered. This is where you will hear about the larger cuts to education and other state departments and programs. Of course, the legislature will weigh in soon after the Governor, which could raise more questions, concerns, or anxiety.
As I have said, great things are happening in our schools every day. Our students are engaged in a wide variety of community service projects around our district. We are experiencing significant improvement in our graduation rate even though funds are getting tighter. We are committed to collaboration between teachers and schools. We focus on data analysis and intervention for our students. We have implemented a blended, distance delivery model of instruction that is being closely examined by the state as a way to provide learning opportunities for all students.
It is important to keep in mind that regardless of the outcome of the State fiscal conversation, KPBSD staff is committed to provide the highest quality education for our students. We will find a way. Some of that will require more community partnerships as a mechanism to provide learning opportunities for all children. It will include a more effective use of technology. Ultimately, our dedicated teachers, administrators and staff will provide the way to a high quality education and who are committed to each child’s learning. This commitment will continue to develop students who are well prepared for their future and who will seek to become the future leaders in our State, Borough and District.
Links
KPBSD story: Input Needed to Solve the State and KPBSD Fiscal Crisis
KPSBD online “Budget” video channel with resources
As we move through the school year, the 1st quarter has come to an end. Some say the school year is a marathon, but it feels more like a mile race. It feels long, but each lap actually goes by very quickly, especially when you are in shape and fully prepared. Our staff is in shape and fully prepared. We continue to see more of our staff recognized for their excellence, including two finalists for the Alaska Teacher of the year! Congratulations go out to Stephanie Cronin of Seward HS and James Harris of Soldotna HS. They are both excellent representatives of our district and truly deserve the recognition.
In visiting many of our schools during the first quarter, students are truly engaged in their learning. It is wonderful to see students develop projects that benefit the community at large. There are several fundraisers led by students and more students are providing their voice on many local boards. I am so impressed with how our staff has worked to provide meaningful opportunities for our students. We all work very hard to develop rigorous and relevant experiences that extend student learning to guide our students to meet much higher expectations.
As we move into the next “lap” of our school year, I know that our staff will continue its focus on what is best for students in the classroom. We all will have many opportunities to demonstrate leadership, grit and persistence while dealing with many uncertainties at the state level. I look forward to working with all of our stakeholders while our students continue to learn at high levels at our schools. As we know, the race is not given to the swift, but to those who endure to the end.
We are now 3 weeks into the school year and it looks like another successful start. Our enrollment is slowly climbing to what we anticipated and our schools are focused on the 3 R’s – Rigor, Relevance and Relationships. This is the time of year where there is a great deal of optimism. My goal is to infuse optimism in our schools the entire year even though there will be significant challenges to be addressed.
Our budget process has already started and we are continuing to find efficient ways to serve students, parents and staff across the district. Technology has been very helpful, especially with professional development. We conducted our district-wide in-service electronically this year and the format was well received by staff. As we refine this format, we anticipate that teachers will be able to collaborate and learn from each other using technology. Travel and distance are no longer roadblocks to improving instruction. We are also excited about how blended learning opportunities are becoming more prevalent in our classrooms. Quality teaching is delivered everywhere to students which further enhances rigor and relevance for all.
As we move through the budgeting process, we look forward to hearing from all of our stakeholders to help our schools meet the funding challenges we are certain to encounter. I look upon these challenges as opportunities to re-think how we do business and improve upon the already good system that we have in place. I appreciate the opportunity to serve this school district and look forward to working with all of our stakeholders productively!
The start of a new school year is upon us! The fireweed is almost open to the top and students will be back in class before we know it. This year, KPBSD is going to update the long-term strategic plan. This document is very important in framing the direction we will go to better educate our students. Considering the immense changes coming in Alaska economically and the U.S. through the Every Student Succeeds Act, the update is very timely. We will have the opportunity to develop a plan that will help our students grow while addressing some of the greatest challenges this state has ever experienced. We will have the opportunity to build a great educational system for all of our students through a new federal law that offers much more local control.
Our focus right now is on making sure our students and staff gets off on the right foot on August 23rd. Our long- term vision is to lead our schools and communities with confidence and optimism through uncertainty. The key to this leadership is to listen, make decisions in the best interests of students and provide support to all during significant change. While this may be the most challenging fiscal crisis in the history of Alaska, we can teach our children how to meet the challenge and succeed despite the obstacles and fear. Our children are counting on us and this is a great opportunity to model for them how to turn problems into opportunities. I am confident we will be able to continue to educate and prepare our students well for their future.
We are well into the summer time and many plans for the upcoming school year have already started. Before we jump into 2016-17, it is important to review what happened this past year. Overall, our district has made progress toward personalizing learning for all students. Learning does not stop when the school bell sounds. It is something that happens any place and any time. Our goal is to help children develop into life-long learners and stretch themselves so that they can improve. Using technology as a tool to facilitate learning is important, but so is helping students develop the soft skills of persistence, communication, critical thinking and creativity. By working to extend what is being taught in the classroom to life outside the classroom in meaningful ways, students will become more engaged and come away with a deeper understanding of the academic skills so important for college and careers. Our district is embarking on enhancing these opportunities for students, helping students develop a love for learning, and making sure the KPBSD diploma is a legitimate marker for success in life. I am proud of what we accomplished this year and the value we have provided all of our students and communities. We will continue to improve and look forward to another excellent year of meeting the needs of all of our students.
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls, and looks like work.” Thomas Edison
The education community in Alaska has a lot of work ahead. As a member of the education community, I am willing to put in that work and provide leadership because of all the opportunities that come with it. We have a chance to shape our plan to meet the new (and somewhat unknown) requirements from the Every Student Succeeds Act. We have a chance to address root concerns from some of our legislators about innovation, results, and supporting a sustainable fiscal plan. We have a chance to tell the public education story – the same stories that give me hope about our state’s and country’s future.
As Thomas Edison said, we cannot miss these opportunities because of the work involved. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has dramatically improved graduation rates over the past several years. The real story is that we have put a great deal of effort into differentiating instruction, developing positive relationships with kids and utilizing technology to expand learning outside of the school day. Every bit of that is rooted in constant focus and effort to meet the individual needs of students.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has prioritized communication with all stakeholders with an emphasis on lasting impact our students have within their individual communities. Whether it is students providing support to their peers in transition or students creating public service announcements to save future lives, we honor those accomplishments and make sure everyone understands the value of the entire system supporting these endeavors. Again, it takes a great deal of effort and sometimes it seems like no one is listening. Then the parent of a student in transition will call saying thanks or a businessperson following up on a story they read about involving one of our innovative, creative students.
As those small “wins” build, the voice of the education community builds. With even more effort and leadership, the true value of public education in our state will gain more respect and recognition. We have the opportunity to transform results and perceptions of public education. It is time for the education community to roll up our sleeves, provide clear examples of value, share the immense amount of success we all have in our districts and engage in the process this fall and next legislative session.
It is that time of the year where the district has a foot in two worlds. We are working hard to have a strong finish to the current school year and at the same time prepare for next school year. We are fortunate that we have a great staff at our schools who are working to stay in the present with their students. We also have a great staff at the district who is able to support our school staff while putting together the framework for next year. This can only be done through great effort and a commitment to process performance management.
Our district has many processes in place, with the most visible one being the budget process. It is exceptionally transparent with many opportunities for input. Another process we have in place that many people see on a regular basis is staffing. We have staffing formulas in place to provide equity in our schools. The goal is for like sized schools to have similar programs. There is flexibility in what programs are offered where through community input. From the district perspective, staffing is dedicated to struggling learners and programs geared toward personalization for student engagement. In the end though, what is offered at individual sites is up to the school itself.
As we make the transition from this school year to the next, please work with your site principal on what is important to your community. As we look to become more efficient, priorities must be set at each school. Some decisions will be difficult, but individual community values are reflected in our schools. I believe our diversity and site level management are the biggest strengths our district has to meet the individual needs of our children.
Learning Anytime, Anywhere in KPBSD
Over the past several months, KPBSD has been updating its five-year strategic plan. Within this plan, the point about utilizing technology to the fullest has generated a lot of discussion. Some are even saying that having curriculum accessible to students anywhere could lead to fewer teachers and more screen time. KPBSD is not trying to replace teachers with technology or simply have students in front of a computer all-day, every day. Ultimately, we are aiming for learning anytime, anywhere, with technology as a tool to provide more rigor and relevancy in a student’s education. This is a necessary component of personalized learning.
So, what is personalized learning? It is the structuring of schools, classrooms and instruction so we can better respond to the individual needs of students, instead of expecting students to fit the current mold or adapt to structures that may not be successful for them. Many of our teachers implement elements of personalized learning in their classrooms right now. Key elements include:
Unfortunately, a common misconception is that Personalized Learning efforts are simply a step toward replacing teachers with computers, which is unequivocally not true. With personalized learning, the teacher is more important than ever. The role shifts, however, from primarily delivering information to creatively facilitating and problem solving so all students can learn at high levels. Using real-time data, teachers frequently assess where each student is at, give immediate feedback, determine individual learning needs, and help them figure out the best path to success.
Personalized learning is about shifting our one-size-fits-all model of education to better prepare students for the jobs and needs of their future. We want to directly connect students to rigorous learning that is relevant and prepares them for life, college, and careers. Ultimately, we are creating a system that supports this approach.
With our primary focus on positive relationships with students in KPBSD we are poised to take the next steps for true personalized learning. We have the base in place (positive, strong relationships), now we are on to deeper rigor and relevance coupled with anytime, anywhere learning to move our students forward in preparing for life.